Reds, Rockies set two homer records

CINCINNATI -- Some attributed it to the 90-degree weather and humidity. Reds manager Dusty Baker credited poor pitch location. Rockies manager Jim Tracy said it was just one of those days at Great American Ball Park. One thing's for certain, Sunday's 7-5 win by the Reds was like an episode of the classic Home Run Derby television show.

Dexter Fowler's pinch-hit home run with one out in the eighth inning off of Reds starter Mat Latos was the ninth home run on Sunday, and it set a Great American Ball Park single-game record.

Eight home runs had been hit in a game at Great American Ball Park three times previously, the last coming on August 13, 2011, in the Reds' 7-1 victory over San Diego.

"You've got a day here with this kind of weather, the ball travels real well in this park," Tracy said. "There's nothing we can do about the first four innings of the game. Six of their seven runs come via the home run. We can't catch those."

The Rockies hit five home runs off of Latos, accounting for the only hits he allowed. Carlos Gonzalez hit a pair of homers. Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Cuddyer added solo shots for Colorado. Cuddyer's homer sailed 448 feet and struck the batter's eye pavilion in center.

Latos became the first pitcher in Reds history, and just the 11th in Major League history, to earn a victory after allowing five home runs.

For Cincinnati, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier homered off of Rockies starter Jamie Moyer.

"The ballpark doesn't matter much to me, I don't try to hit home runs," said Bruce, who homered for the first time in 16 games and 60 at-bats.

Fowler's home run was the 29th hit during the Reds' homestand. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is a Great American Ball Park record for a homestand of seven games or fewer.

"If you make quality pitches, you could be playing in a shoebox, and it won't matter," Baker said. "If you don't, you could be playing in Yellowstone."